I was a strongly practicing Catholic from about age 12 to 20, while living in New York. Slightly unique, since there was no family encouragement whatsoever. My mom tolerated my Catholicism. She was sort of anti-Catholic due to some bad teacher memories she had from attending convent school as a young girl.

One thing I observed being raised in Queens, New York City: our population consisted overwhelmingly of Catholics and Jews. Protestants were only about 10 percent. I knew a couple. Most of my neighborhood friends were Catholic and went to St Luke’s Catholic School. I was one of few that went to Public School (PS) 32.

Probably, due partly to peer pressure, I checked on what it would take to join the Catholic church. Luckily, my mom christened me as a Catholic at birth. But, I needed to attend Religious instruction at the Catholic school and receive my first holy communion and my confirmation.

That was a significant challenge. Typically, Catholic children, at the direction of their parents, attend religious instruction for their first holy communion, at about 7 years old. I was 12. Sooooo I attended Catholic instruction every Wednesday afternoon from 2-3pm, at St Lukes, with several 7-year olds. PS 32 supported that decision and even provided bus transportation. Oh yeah, that was fun.

The good news was that I was able to attend the religious instruction for my Confirmation the following year with 12-13 year olds. Archbishop Molloy confirmed me with my chosen confirmation name, Joseph, in 1952. So, I was then, Donald Roy Joseph Scooler.

As a confirmed Catholic, I attended mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation. I went to confession at least once a month. I also took Lent, holy week and Easter very seriously.

I thought a bunch about my typical Good Friday two days ago, Good Friday, 2025. It has been about 65 years since I practiced the following event. I would go to my church at about noon. From noon to three, the hours Jesus suffered on the cross, I would stay at church and walk through the 14 stations of the cross displayed there. I would pray and meditate at each station, and repeat the cycle for three hours. If you wanna know more about the Stations of the Cross, just Google it.

Catholicism played a major role in my young life for about 8 years. I still remember how good I felt after Saturday afternoon Confession. And, how scared I was before. Also, how I finagled to get Father Martin in the Confessional rather than Father Dillon, so I wouldn’t get yelled at.

I now look upon that time of my life with fond memories. It encompasses the most educational and life affecting time of my life. Wow, that’s a little scary. Enuf.